NARUTO: Ninja Council Collection

NARUTO: Ninja Council series bring the ninja world of Naruto to handheld consoles in sidescrolling adventures that loosely follow the anime’s arcs, mixing platforming, combat and ninja flair. Let’s break down the main four games in the series.  

NARUTO

Ninja Council

The first game kicks things off with a simple but fun side scrolling action format. You play as Naruto, Sasuke or Kakashi, each with unique moves and jutsu activated by collecting scrolls. The gameplay is straightforward: run, jump and punch your way through levels inspired by the Land of Waves and Chunin Exam arcs. The chakra system adds a bit of strategy, letting you unleash special attacks or break barriers, but it’s pretty basic. The sprites are fine and the music tries to capture the anime’s vibe, tho the quality is cripy.

Ninja Council 2

The sequel steps things up with more characters including Rock Lee and Sakura, and a coop mode via link cable. The story covers the Chunin Exams and Sasuke Retrieval arcs, tho it takes liberties with boss fights (why fight Orochimaru so many times? ). The combat is smoother with better combo potential, the sprite work improves, and these designs stick around for future games.

Ninja Council 3

Jumping to the DS, Ninja Council 3 introduces touchscreen controls for jutsu, which is cool. The game shifts to mission based gameplay, with objectives like protecting allies or defeating enemies under specific conditions. The roster expands, including fan favorites like Shikamaru and Gaara and the sprite work remains consistent.

Ninja Council 4

The last entry brings the Shippuden era into the mix, focusing on Naruto’s older, stronger self. The gameplay refines the mission structure and the story tackles the Akatsuki arc, giving it a darker tone. The touchscreen jutsu are less intrusive here and the combat feels tighter. The roster includes Shippuden versions of characters and the visuals get a slight upgrade.